Improvement in feed-water heatees



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'Letters Patent No. 74,959, dated February 25, 1868.

mraov'nnsur IN FEED-WATER actress.

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TO ALL WHOM ITM AY CONCERN: i

Be it known that I, Grouse I. Wasnnonn', of \Vm'ccster, Worcester county, State of. Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feed-Water Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

i The object of this intention is to utilize the exhaust steam of the engine which pumps water into the boiler; and the invention consistsin condensing the exhaust steam by subjecting it to the cooling influence'of'the feedwater while the latter is on its way from the reservoir to the boiler. The heat ofthc exhauststeam is-thus imparted to the feed-water, andcontributes to effect the vaporization of the same, instead of being lost, as is the case in common steam-pumps. t

Various methods of construction and arrangement may be employed, all of which embody the essential provisions which serve to attain the object contemplated undert his improvement, namely, first, a steamnpump or pumps for forcing water into the boiler; and, second, a condensing-chamber or apartment, into or through which the exhaust steam of the pumping-engine is conveyed to be condensed by the water' in traneitubetween the reservoir and pump or between the pump and the boiler. i

I The several figures of the accompanying drawings represent sectional elevations of difi'erent forms of apparatus embodying my invention, which will be described. in the order of their numbers, like letters and figures indicating corresponding parts in the different views.

In Figure 1, two c'ondensers, C D, are employed lDCOl'lTlBCUOl'l with the pumping-engine, of which A is the steam-cylinder, and B the pump or water-cylinder; 1 is the steam-supply pipe, and 2the exhaust-pipe of A; 3 is the pipe leading from the reservoir to the'pump-cylinder, and 4, the pipe leading from B to the boiler. The condensers G and D may be enlarged portions of the respective pipes 3 and 4, but in the illustration the disjoined parts of each pipe are represented as leading into the upper and lower part of a distinct condensingchamber. As the pump-piston ll is moved in the direct-ion indicated by the black arrow, the consequent vacuum causescohl water to ascend from the reservoir into the condenser 0, through the lower section of pipe 3, and hot waterinto' the cylinder 13, through the u'pper'sction of pipe 3, and during this movement the valve 5 opens and valve 6 closes. Thevacnum produced by said stroke of the piston also causes the contents of the exhaust-pipe 2 to discharge into the condenser C. Said exhaust-pipe 2 traverses the condenser Din the form of a. coil, and terminates within the condenser C in a similar coil, its extremity being guarded by a'valve, 7, which opens to permit the pipe 2 to exhaust into the. condenser, but closes to prevent the passageof the water from the chamber 0 into the pipe. A valve, c, in the. lower end of the condenser 0, (or a similar valve in the lower end ,of pipe 3,) preventsreflnx of the elevated water, and keeps the condenser supplied with sufiicient water for the purpose of condensation; When the motion of the piston B is reversed, the valve 5 closes, the valvefi opens, and the water is forced vfrom pump-cylinder B to the boiler through the pipe 4 and condenser D. While D will be termed a surface-condenser, inasmuch as the exhaust steam passes through it without coming in contact with the water, 0 will he styled a-direct-eentnct condenser, both by reason of the discharge of-the contents of the exhaust-pipe into the same and for the sake of distinction. The water in the surface-condenser, which maintains a sufiicicnt constant bulk, may,-under some conditions, be sulficient to effect the complete condensation of'the exhaust'stoam; hence the surface-condenser may be the sole means for condensing the exhaust steam, in which case the water of condensation may be pumped or conveyed into the boiler by any suitable means. The same is truebf the diresbcontact condenser C, which, as employed alone, or without a separate surface-condenser, is shown in fig. 2. By prolonging the exhaust-pipe 2, under the arrangement shown in fig. 2, the condenser becomes a surface-condenser, located on the water-supply side of the pump-valves. This may be done when desirable.

In FigureQ the steam-pump and its accessories and the condenser-G are constructed and conhectedthe some as in fig. 1, butrthe'exit-water pipe 4 leads directlylfrom the pump-cylinder B to the boiler instead of through a surface-condenser ,.as in fig. 1, and the exhaust-pipe 2 passes directly into the condenser G.

In Figure 3, the piston, within the steam-cylinder A, drives two plungers, B 13 of the duplex pump B, which is furnished with check-valves, as shown. The pump 13 B raises the water from the reservoir through Patent:

the pipe 8, ancl forces it into the elevated condenser C through the pipo-9. This reservoir may be simply a tank, open or closed at top, and situated between the two sets' ofQcheck-valvesor ratherbetween the pum cylinders. Water from this tank descends by gravity in the pipe 3 andfloods' the cylinder 13, from which it'- is ejected into the boiler through the pipe 4. v i

In Figure 4, a single condenser, C, is employed in connection with two distinct steam-pumps. .The two steam-cylinders A A exhaust into the condenser G through the respective pipes 2 2; K The engine A B'-' Bi-draws water from the reservoir through the pipe 8, and forces it into the condenser U through the pipe 9. I The engine, A B B takes water from the'coridenc er throughthe pipe 3, and'i'orces it into the boiler through the piped,

In Figure 5 is shown a condens'er, C, in connection with a double-acting force-pump, B B. In this case .the engine exhausts into the condenser O, as before, but the pump first takes the water from the reservoir thr ghan independent pipe, 8, then ejects it into'the condenser through pipe 9, andthen draws hot water from the condenser through pipe 3, and throws it into the boiler through pipe 4.

Thevario-us modifications of theinvention which I have described above will naturally suggest many others, all involving the same general principles, and serving to cfiect a saving of heat, by utilizing the exhauststeam The invention enables the to employ cheap solid pistons in the steam-cylinders of the pumps, inasmuchas'any. steam which may leak between the piston and cylinder: is condensed and returned to the boiler without material inconvenience. A. saving of power is due to the fact. that the resist'anceopposed to'the steam-piston of the pump is reduced by the vacuum which occurs when the pump'draws from the condenser, such vacuum serving to promptly relieve the steam cylinder and exhaust-pipe of their contents. vThe check-valve 7 is especially conducive-to the attainment of this result,

The direct uniform drawing and expellingu'ction of the pump-piston or plunger obviates failure in the operation of the pump, which failure might otherwise resultfroni the deterioration or destruction of thevacuum by the vaporization of water or the pressure of air in thecondense'r or pipes. The direct drawing and'forcin g action of the pump will free the pipes and condenser of air or vapor, and a few strokes will suflice to'startthe pump into effectiveoperation,notwithstanding a temporary drawback of this kind.. The pipe 2 may be provided with a cock to shut ofi the exhaust steam from the condenser, and disphargethe some elsewhere, when it becomes desirable to work the pump without condensing, so asto prevent the undue heating and vaporization of the water in the condenser, as in frceing a long pipe forl the first time. This cool: may be turned by hand, or it may be used-in connection with a heat-expanding device or in Heat, which shall automatically regulate the passage of,the exhaust steam to the condenser as desired. The single-acting pump-pistons maybc'madeeitlrer solid, as herein'represcnted, or they may be provided with valves for the passage ot'water, so as that water may be taken in at one end of thc cylinder and discharged atthe other,

I propose to use the double piston described in my patent, 'No. 48,809, dated September 5, 1865, und'attach to eachend of each of the two valve-pistons a single-acting plunger'pistom and of thesefour pistons't wo shall draw water and put it into condenser, and 'the other twortake it from condenser and force it into the. boiler.

The condensers may bemadc in the some casting as the pump; a hollow base, for'e xample. v

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. The combination, with the condenser C,'urrangcd between the reservoir and pump, of the surface-' condenser D, fig. 1, situated between the pump and boiler, substantially D-S'dGSCIlbed.

2. The arrangement of the condenser between-two pumps or two ends of the same pump, substantially as described. I

3. A steam-pump and coiwensmg apparatus, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described,

To the above specification of my new and useful improvement in feed-water apparatus, I have signed my hand, this 13th day of August, A, D. 1867. i I

Witnesses:

Coun'snn L. Homer, EDWARD MBLLEN.

one, I WASHBURN. 

